CE-DAT: The complex emergencies database

The Complex Emergency Database (CE-DAT) is an international initiative monitoring and evaluating the health status of populations affected by complex emergencies.

CE-DAT is managed by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and was created in 2003 as an outcome of SMART, an interagency initiative to encourage rational, evidence-driven humanitarian decision-making.

CE-DAT is a database of mortality and malnutrition rates - the most commonly used public health indicators of the severity of a humanitarian crisis. Field agencies use these indicators to identify and measure the severity of needs, and thus prioritize human and financial resources. These indicators have been essential in monitoring the overall impact and effectiveness of the relief system.

Today, with over 2,000 surveys and 20,000 health indicators, CE-DAT serves as a unique source of field data for monitoring the health status of conflict-affected populations. It is also instrumental in the production of trend analyses, impact briefings and policy recommendations.